Al-Qaida operative killed in Saudi Arabia

Saudis also raid two safe houses, seize equipment

Reuters News Service

Published
5:30 am CDT, Friday, July 2, 2004

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi forces have killed a logistics operative for the Saudi wing of al-Qaida and seized explosives and weapons during a Wednesday security operation in Riyadh, officials and security sources said Thursday.

Two al-Qaida-linked safe houses also were raided and large quantities of explosives, weapons, communication and computer equipment were seized, it said, adding that a number of militants had been wounded but had escaped.

For over a year, the world's largest oil exporter has been battling militants loyal to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida, which is bent on toppling the country's pro-U.S. monarchy.

Security sources had said Wednesday that Saudi police had killed senior al-Qaida ideologue Abdullah al-Roshood during the gunbattle, but officials later denied he had been killed.

It was the first militant violence since Saudi forces shot dead the leader of the group in the kingdom 12 days ago.

A policeman also was killed in the same firefight.

Security sources said Ghabalan was in charge of overseeing the smuggling of weapons and explosives into the kingdom and ensuring the militants had the materials needed for attacks.

He also wrote manuals on weapons' training in the Saudi al-Qaida's Internet newsletter, the sources said. "Basically he was one of al-Qaida's logistics guys," one security source said.

Last month, the al-Qaida group beheaded U.S. hostage Paul Johnson in Riyadh shortly before security forces killed its leader and three senior militants.

The United States and Britain, key allies of Saudi Arabia, have urged their 65,000 citizens in the kingdom to leave, citing the possibility of further militant attacks.

Saudi officials have vowed to protect foreign residents but said the battle with al-Qaida is not yet over.

Last week, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah announced a limited government amnesty for militants who surrender.

Al-Qaida, in an Internet newsletter, denounced the amnesty and said it was doomed to fail.

But two militants, including one on a list of 26 most-wanted suspects, gave themselves up this week. The most senior militant, Othman al-Amri, was shown on state television Thursday urging his comrades to follow his lead.